Beneteau Cruising Sailboats

Oceanis 34 and Beneteau 34, the 2009 Best Value Cruiser Revisited

Finot-Conq hull, Nauta interior, a 9/10 rig and a T-shaped cockpit: the 2008 to 2015 34-footer Cruising World judged the best value of its year.

2008 to 2015 Discontinued Updated

Beneteau Oceanis 311 at anchor in the UK
For reference, Beneteau Oceanis 311 at anchor in the UK, not the Beneteau Oceanis 34. Photo: Timbow001, CC0, source
Length
33.9 ft10.34 m
Beam
12 ft3.65 m
Draft
6 ft1.82 m
Cabins
2 or 3 (one large aft cabin or two aft doubles)
Used price
$70K to $115K
On this page
  1. Overview
  2. Oceanis 34 in France, Beneteau 34 in Marion
  3. Cruising World's Best Value cruiser for 2009
  4. Narragansett Bay: 6 knots up, 7 off, 6.5 under power
  5. A T-shaped cockpit and a 105 percent jib
  6. Nauta's Alpi interior in two or three cabins
  7. Grid, fully bonded bulkheads and an iron keel
  8. Yanmar 29, 130 liters of diesel and split water tanks
  9. Telling a 34 from a 343, 35 or 34.1, and what to pay
  10. Specifications
  11. Price and value
  12. Strengths and weaknesses
  13. Used buyer checklist
  14. Rivals
  15. Our verdict
  16. FAQ

The Oceanis 34, sold in the US as the Beneteau 34 and built in South Carolina from 2008, is a 33 ft 11 in Finot-Conq cruiser with a Nauta interior. Cruising World named it Best Value cruiser for 2009.

Best for
  • Couples and young families
  • Club cruising and casual PHRF racing
  • Two-week coastal cruises
  • Buyers wanting a single-wheel, single-rudder boat

Beneteau Oceanis 34 by the numbers

LOA 33' 11" / 10.34 mBeam 12' 0" / 3.65 mBow
Plan view drawn to scale from the published length and beam.
Sail area to displacement
19.9Balanced power for coastal and offshore cruising.
Displacement to length
192Light displacement for its length, quick but sensitive to added cruising weight.
Theoretical hull speed
7.4 knThe practical top speed of a displacement monohull under normal sailing, based on waterline length.
Ballast ratio
26%Relatively low ballast, form stability does more of the work.
Capsize screening
2.07Above 2.0, so this hull leans toward coastal stability over ultimate offshore resistance.
Motion comfort ratio
22.2A quicker motion in waves, typical of light, beamy hulls.
Length to beam ratio
2.83 : 1A beamy hull with lots of volume for its length.

Length compared with the 149 cruising sailboats we cover

22 ft63 ft

Oceanis 34 in France, Beneteau 34 in Marion

The oceanis 34 was the last piece of the small Finot-Conq range Beneteau rolled out in 2007 and 2008. Cruising World noted that the 34 filled the slot between the 31 and the 37, and that the three boats share profile, deck layout, interior logic and even components. In Europe it was sold as the Oceanis 34; in the US it was the Beneteau 34, built at Beneteau's plant in Marion, South Carolina, from 2008. Wikipedia and sailboatdata both treat the two as the same design.

It stayed in the range until the Oceanis 35 arrived for the 2015 model year; Beneteau's last European inventory list for the 34 is dated October 2014 and includes a 2015 Edition trim. Searches for beneteau 34 also turn up the earlier Beneteau 343 and the current Oceanis 34.1, which are different boats, so check the year and the hull shape before comparing prices.

Cruising World's Best Value cruiser for 2009

The Boat of the Year judges sailed the Beneteau 34 on the final morning of sea trials in 15 to 25 knots of north wind and a short Chesapeake chop. They expected a wet ride and got the opposite: the boat stood up to its canvas and kept spray out of the cockpit while each judge took a turn at the helm. It was the least expensive cruising sailboat they tested, yet by the numbers its performance ranked in the top third.

They liked the leather-covered wheel wide enough to sit outboard, the primary winches just forward of it, good handholds on the dodger and the nonskid that wraps onto the curved edge of the cabintop. The one complaint, shared by most boats of this size, is that the mainsheet goes to a coachroof winch, so the skipper has to leave the wheel to trim the main. The judges concluded it was a heck of a buy for the money.

Narragansett Bay: 6 knots up, 7 off, 6.5 under power

Cruising World's full review sailed a Beneteau 34 on Narragansett Bay on a blustery day. Overcanvased under full sail, it heeled in the puffs but not too far, because the 6 ft cast iron keel and bulb keep the center of gravity low and the fairly hard turn of the bilge adds form stability. Dropping the cabintop traveler stopped the boat rounding up in 20-knot gusts. It pointed well, made about 6 knots on the wind and about 7 with sheets eased.

Under power in crowded Newport Harbor it turned on a dime and backed straight thanks to the balanced spade rudder, and it cruised at about 6.5 knots wide open at the harbor mouth. The cable and quadrant steering by Goiot gave light, fingertip control. Sailboatdata lists PHRF ratings of 147 to 150 for the fin keel and 156 for the shoal version, which puts it squarely in club cruising class territory.

A T-shaped cockpit and a 105 percent jib

The cockpit is T-shaped, using the boat's full beam aft and leaving a path around the wheel to the swim platform. Wraparound seats let the helmsman perch to either side of the wheel with a view of the telltales, and the angled deckhouse bulkhead makes a backrest for crew. The center of the aft seat lifts for access to the stern; to port there is a liferaft space and a separate vented propane locker, and the starboard seat locker is shallow enough to reach the bottom without a headstand.

The deck-stepped 9/10 rig, built by US Spars on American boats, has swept spreaders and outboard chainplates so the 105 percent jib sheets inboard. In the US a furling main and jib from Neil Pryde were standard, with a traditional hoisted main as a roughly $1,000 option; European boats came with a classic half-battened main, lazy jack and lazy bag. Beneteau lists a 30 m2 main and a 32 m2 genoa, 62 m2 in all.

Nauta's Alpi interior in two or three cabins

Below, Nauta Design used Alpi, a reconstituted veneer with a uniform grain, and straight-lined furniture. The saloon has a U-shaped dinette to port and a settee to starboard, long enough for sea berths with lee cloths. The galley is to port by the companionway with a two-burner stove and oven, a double sink near the centerline and a front-opening fridge, listed at 110 liters in Europe. The head with shower is aft to starboard.

Two plans were offered. The two-cabin boat has one big aft cabin with an athwartships double of about 2.10 by 1.60 m and a deep cockpit locker; the three-cabin boat splits the space into two aft doubles of about 2.00 by 1.45 m. The forward double measures about 2.05 by 1.80 m. Headroom is 1.84 m in the saloon, 1.85 m in the galley and 1.88 m at the companionway, and the drop boards slide up under the hatch when not in use.

Grid, fully bonded bulkheads and an iron keel

Cruising World described the structure as an integral fiberglass grid and hull liner bonded to a solid glass hull, bulkheads bonded 360 degrees to hull and deck, and a deck cored with resin-infused end-grain balsa. The fiberglass rudder sits on a stainless stock. Beneteau's own list adds a hull to deck joint that is screwed, bonded and trimmed with a PVC bulwark, and a cast iron keel bolted through stainless backing plates.

Light displacement is 5,620 kg (12,390 lb) for the deep keel version, with 1,450 kg of ballast; the shoal keel carries 1,610 kg. Sailboatdata lists the US Beneteau 34 at 12,566 lb. The sail area to displacement ratio of about 16 is modest, which is why the 34 feels stiff rather than skittish.

Yanmar 29, 130 liters of diesel and split water tanks

Every 34 has a Yanmar 29 hp diesel on a stainless shaft with a fixed three-blade propeller, a 125 amp alternator and a rotomolded 130 liter (34 gallon) fuel tank under the starboard aft berth. Beneteau's 2010 brochure lists 290 liters of water, carried in two tanks, while its 2014 list quotes 315 liters, and sailboatdata gives 83 gallons for both versions. Standard electrics are one 70 amp hour service battery and one for the engine; the 2015 Edition added a second service battery, a 1,000 watt windlass, a full 220 volt system and LED lighting.

Engine access comes through the companionway and through the aft cabins or head depending on layout. The tankage is generous for the size, which makes the 34 more practical for a two-week cruise than many later 34-footers.

Telling a 34 from a 343, 35 or 34.1, and what to pay

The Beneteau 343 of 2004 to 2008 is a Groupe Finot boat with a pivoting wheel and a masthead-style 9/10 rig; the Oceanis 35 of 2015 has twin wheels, twin rudders and a hard chine; the Oceanis 34.1 from 2021 is a Marc Lombard design with a chined hull. The Oceanis 34 has a single wheel, single rudder, nearly plumb stem and a T-shaped cockpit.

In 2026 a realistic US asking range is about $70,000 to $115,000, with earlier boats and in-mast furling mains at the low end. Running costs are about $8,500 to $16,000 a year for a 34 ft boat in most US markets.

Beneteau Oceanis 34 specifications

Length overall33.9 ft10.34 m
Waterline length30.7 ft9.35 m
Beam12 ft3.65 m
Draft6 ft1.82 m
Air draft50 ft15.25 m
Displacement12,39 lbs5,62 kg
Ballast3,197 lbs1,45 kg
Sail area667 sq ft62 m²
Fuel capacity34 gal13 L
Fresh water77 gal29 L
Cabins2 or 3 (one large aft cabin or two aft doubles)
Berths4 to 6
Heads1, aft to starboard, with shower
Maximum persons6
Standard enginesYanmar 29 hp diesel (3YM30), shaft drive
Maximum power29 hp
Hull typeFin keel monohull with nearly plumb stem, firm bilges and spade rudder
KeelCast iron fin with bulb, 1.82 m (6 ft); shoal keel 1.37 m (4 ft 6 in)
RigDeck-stepped 9/10 fractional sloop, aft-swept spreaders, outboard chainplates, 105 percent jib
Hull constructionSolid fiberglass hull with bonded grid liner, balsa-cored deck
CE design categoryDeep keel A6, B7, C8; shoal keel B7, C8, D10
BuilderBeneteau, France (Oceanis 34); Beneteau USA, Marion, South Carolina (Beneteau 34), France and USA
Naval architectFinot-Conq and Associates
Other design creditsNauta Design (interior)
Production2008 to 2015
StatusDiscontinued

Figures come from builder documentation and independent tests where available. Displacement is usually quoted light, so a loaded cruising boat will weigh more. Compare these specs with another model.

Performance data

ConditionSpeed (kn)Source
Upwind, blustery day, Narragansett BayAbout 6Cruising World, 2009
Sheets eased, bearing offAbout 7Cruising World, 2009
Under power, wide openAbout 6.5Cruising World, 2009

Beneteau 34 with the 6 ft cast iron keel and a traditional hoisted main.

How much does a Beneteau Oceanis 34 cost?

New, typical sail-awayNo longer built
Used, typical asking$70K to $115K
Yearly running costs$9K to $16K

Cruising World put a commissioned, ready-to-sail Beneteau 34 at about $150,000 on the US East Coast in 2009. European asks for 2012 boats sit around 59,500 to 70,000 euros, and a 2015 boat in Scotland asked 67,500 pounds. Deep keel, a conventional main, recent sails and low engine hours move a boat toward the top.

Estimated used asking prices by model year, US market, 2026
$60K$80K$100K20082008, $68,000 to $92,00020092009, $70,000 to $95,00020102010, $73,000 to $98,00020112011, $76,000 to $102,00020122012, $79,000 to $106,00020132013, $82,000 to $109,00020142014, $85,000 to $112,00020152015, $88,000 to $115,000

Estimate your yearly cost

A planning estimate using common rules of thumb: insurance near 1.5 percent of value, maintenance near 3 percent, haul out and bottom paint by length. Your marina, region and use will move these numbers. Open the full cost calculator.

Versions and options

Oceanis 34, two cabins
One large athwartships aft cabin and a big cockpit locker.
Oceanis 34, three cabins
Two aft doubles of about 2.00 by 1.45 m.
Beneteau 34
US-built version from Marion, South Carolina, with Neil Pryde furling sails as standard.
Shoal keel
1.37 m (4 ft 6 in) draft with 1,610 kg of ballast.

Beneteau Oceanis 34 timeline

  1. 2008Oceanis 34 and Beneteau 34 launched
  2. 2009Cruising World names the Beneteau 34 Best Value cruiser
  3. 2014Final inventory list issued with a 2015 Edition trim
  4. 2015Oceanis 35 takes its place in the range

Strengths and weaknesses

What owners like

  • Stiff and well behaved in a breeze
  • Light, precise steering
  • Generous fuel and water for the size
  • Practical T-shaped cockpit
  • Strong value on the used market

What to weigh up

  • Mainsheet winch out of the helmsman's reach
  • Saloon shelves need better fiddles
  • Sail area is modest for light-air venues
  • Iron keel needs coating maintenance

Used Beneteau Oceanis 34 buyer checklist

Take this list to a viewing. Your ticks are saved in this browser so you can come back to it.

Always commission an independent marine survey and an engine survey before you buy. How a marine survey works.

Rivals to consider

Catalina 355

American contemporary from 2008, a little bigger, with a strong dealer and owner network.

Compare side by side

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 33i

Group sibling launched in 2008 in the same size bracket.

Hanse 342

German rival from 2006, usually rigged with Hanse's self-tacking jib.

Bavaria Cruiser 33

Later German alternative from 2013 in the same size bracket.

Compare side by side

Our verdict on the Beneteau Oceanis 34

The oceanis 34 is one of the easiest Beneteaus of its era to recommend. It sails better than its size and price suggest, stands up to a breeze, steers lightly and carries more fuel and water than most 34-footers built since. The interior is plain rather than plush, and the mainsheet sits on a coachroof winch, but those are small complaints. A well kept deep keel Beneteau 34 is a sensible, durable family cruiser and still the value buy Cruising World called it in 2009.

Beneteau Oceanis 34 questions answered

Is the Beneteau 34 the same as the Oceanis 34?

Yes, they are the same Finot-Conq design; the Beneteau 34 was built in Marion, South Carolina for the US market.

How much did a Beneteau 34 cost new?

Cruising World put a commissioned, ready-to-sail boat at about $150,000 on the US East Coast in 2009.

What is the Beneteau 34 price on the used market?

Roughly $70,000 to $115,000 in the US in 2026, depending on year, sails and condition.

What engine does the Oceanis 34 have?

A 29 hp Yanmar diesel, the 3YM30, on a conventional shaft.

What is the draft of a Beneteau 34?

About 6 ft with the standard keel and 4 ft 6 in with the shoal keel.

More cruising sailboats to explore

Other Beneteau models

Buying used? Our step by step used yacht buying guide Financing Work out monthly payments on a Beneteau Oceanis 34 Cruising Sailboats How this type compares and what to look for